"The People's
Union for Civil Liberties strongly condemns the dastardly attack on the renowned
Islamic scholar, Bohra reformist, and Human Rights activist Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer
on Sunday February 13 at the Mumbai airport by the suspected followers of the
chief of Bohra priesthood, Syedna. Simultaneously, his residence and office
of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism was also ransacked. The attack
on Dr. Engineer was in broad daylight and was witnessed by a large number of
persons and security personnel present at the airport.

"Dr. Asghar
Ali Engineer, who has been a Vice President of the PUCL for a number of years,
has dedicated his life for securing liberties granted by the Constitution of
India but denied by the Syedna to his followers. Syedna, who run a State within
the State, is very intolerant of any opposition to his fiat.

"It is.
reported that this incident occurred when Dr. Engineer was on his way back from
Bhopal. The brief stop over of the plane at Indoor became very long as the Syedna,
who was to enplane from there, was late and the aircraft was detained for more
than an hour to wait for him. The passengers protested against this and Dr.
Engineer joined the protest. It is believed that Dr. Engineer was targeted to
avenge the protests by all the other passengers. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer was
admitted to the hospital profusely bleeding and badly bruised.

"The PUCL
demands a high level enquiry into the attack. It demands action against the
airport and the airlines officials for detaining the plane and letting the hooligans
take the law into their hand within the premises of the airport. The PUCL also
demands adequate security for the Engineer family and their residence and office".
Dr. Y. P. Chhibbar, General Secretary.